TV producer Eric Weinberg has $5-million bail revoked after judge labels him danger to society.
Weinberg, 51, had been charged with attempting to extort $1.2 million from Universal Studios for rights to five sound recordings of the Beatles that he sold to his company.
Earlier this month, a judge found Weinberg, a musicologist best known for his work on the films “The Great Escape” and “The Great Escape 2,” to be a threat to society. The judge cited several recent actions by Weinberg that included breaking up fights between his fans, driving an automobile while intoxicated, and carrying a gun when he had been arrested in 2007.
A spokeswoman for the city of New York told The Hollywood Reporter on Monday that Weinberg has been released from jail. She wouldn’t disclose any further details.
Weinberg’s lawyers did not respond to request for comment.
In March, Weinberg’s bail was revoked and he was forced to return to jail. But, the judge presiding over the case said that Weinberg had not broken any laws.
Weinberg is the latest example of a former music producer being forced into the criminal justice system after his business took a bad turn. Last month, British recording artist and record label promoter Stuart Matthewman was slapped with multiple fraud charges in connection with his handling of $8.5 million in royalties from the music of “Blurred Lines” singer Robin Thicke, his former co-manager.
Matthewman pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on $300,000 in bail.
Weinberg is represented by a group of prominent lawyers including James J. Gilligan, a former chief of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. Gilligan is best known for representing Oscar-winning documentary film maker D.A. Pennebaker. His firm, L.A. Gilligan & Smith, has represented “Chinatown,” the award-winning film on the murder of Kitty Genovese.
Weinberg is expected to return to court next week, according to court records.
He is scheduled to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on Dec. 19.